I use humor or sneaky tricks to get people to stop. One lady kept calling Baron, so I quietly told him to go say hi, and then I tripped and almost fell over my crutches when he went up to her. I said “Oh sorry, I don’t why he did that, he’s not supposed to!” She was so embarrassed and obviously knew she was calling him. The lady’s friends started harshly whispering to her that she was horrible for distracting a service dog and that I could’ve been hurt, I guarantee she never did it to anyone again!😂

Great video!! If I’m having a bad health day I have started acting like I don’t hear people so I can avoid questions. Advocating for your dog is never rude, if people distract them we have to correct the human. No reason for any of us to feel embarrassed if we have to correct someone regardless of the age gap.

I used to have a very hard time being rude to people who seem clueless about approaching and petting, or people with out of control dogs off leash. The idea of advocating for your dog is very empowering, in getting past this! Now I am pretty comfortable being as big a "jerk" as I have to be. We go to events where people are everywhere, and I simply have no time or patience for calmly educating people every 20 steps!

I always feel so bad about telling people "no"

If you say it’s a crime to distract a service dog/miniature horse (which it is) they’ll stop immediately. That’s blunt, but also very honest.

I love that you represent the SD community with such class and kindness. You are so articulate, personable and relatable.

Thanks for posting this list and how you react to it. I have a hard time being blunt with people that can't seem to read my dog's vest which says "Service Dog - Please Ignore Me: No eye contact, no talk, no pet" in bold red and white font. What I hate most is when a self-proclaimed "service dog expert" calls my dog a fake service dog because they don't know that I only leave my house a few times a year and my dog forgets some of her training. She picks it up again pretty fast, but I have to remind her of what she's supposed to do. Please remember everyone with a service dog doesn't has the same circumstances, so please be kind.

I had a worker at Kohl's try to get me to say my dog was a fake service dog. She said, "You just made your dog into a service dog, right?". I don't know what gave her the impression that he's fake. He was heeled next to me in his vest and was constantly focused on me. Idk if it's because he's isn't a German Shepherd or a Lab or what it was. He was doing his job perfectly.

At a Target store, I recently had to tell a Father to not encourage his toddler son to approach strange dogs, and most especially Peah, my Service Dog. He was actually encouraging his sno to go say hi and son intent on it, that it took several "Please stop and don't let your child near my dog. She is working right now." Peah is a maltipoo, only 9 lbs and very cute. Being well behaved and obviously trained, she attracts even more attention. So many people want to pet and ooh and ahh and gush over her. Most will respect my request to not approach her, but yes, it always surprises me how many will take offense when they are the ones being offensive. I'm learning being blunt with a smile works better than trying to be polite and saving them their embarass,ment.

You're way more polite than me. If someone said "my friend has a service dog but she's *actually* disabled" I would NOT respond nicely.

I’m in the process of thinking about getting an SD for my anxiety, it’s getting worse even with all the methods and meds I’ve tried. In the meantime of thinking I’ve been binge watching certain SD videos to help me learn more and to prepare myself incase I do come to the conclusion of getting a SD

I had a lady tell me “I know I’m not supposed to pet him, but I just have to talk to him.” Then she proceeded to start talking to my service dog. I did stand up for my dog and told her if you know that much, then you also know not to talk or distract them. I embarrassed her in front of a group of people she was with and then she stormed off. Then my mom got mad at me for embarrassing her. I told her I’m sorry, but I’m going to stand up for my dog first. Like you said, that lady will now think twice when she sees another service dog team.

The biggest problem is unattended children in the store, running toward my service dog. Sometimes, I hurry down another aisle at other times. I have to tell them, please do not touch my dog!

Sometimes when I think the person who was interfering with my dog had good intentions, and they’re polite when I tell them off for it, I’ll have my dog do a couple of tricks in front of them to lighten the mood. Like giving me his paws to shake, spinning, hopping into the air to tap my hand, etc. It usually makes them happy to see and opens up conversation for education! That being said try not to feel badly when you have to say no! Remember that your puppy is probably one of dozens that they’ll see that week who they *can* say hi to~ and that it’s, a lot of the time, basic rudeness to begin with which you should never feel badly about calling them out for! Sometimes it gets easier~ when we first became a team telling people no made me feel super anxious and badly. Now almost six years later not only is it super natural and easy but it’s also been great for helping me learn how to advocate for myself and others in other areas of life!!

thank you so much for this video. I just today had a situation when my guide dog, Buddy, was distracted by a woman making noises towards him while he was looking for the elevator on a crouded train platform. I got so anxious that I couldn't say anything to the womean. Since Buddy was distracted,he couldn't notice that the shaking of my body would had been a pretty clear cue for him to slow down and find a quite place for me to calm down. I will learn some of your ideas by heart,so that I will have a proper response next time and no reason to get anxious in those cases. I always feel so bad when telling people not to distract Buddy, but in the end he is confused and I am anxious and the only happy person is the stranger. I love watching your videos and just wanted to let you know that you have a plesent voice to lissten to. Warm hugs from Munich (Germany) Clara with Buddy

As someone with a SDIT, I don't think it's rude to correct someone. As people witn disabilities and SDs when we advocate about our rights it helps educate people so the next SD team may not have to go through the same situation. Advocating for ourselves helps others in our community.

One thing that my daughter does when people want to pet, talk to, etc to her service dog is first kind of like you the "I'm sorry she's working, please give us space" when they become insistent she will sometimes say "think of my dog like medical equipment such as a wheelchair, walker or cane. would you walk up and pet a wheelchair or talk to someone's cane? just because she's fluffy does not make her less than those types of medical equipment, in fact she does more for me than a cane or walker could ever" sometimes it works and other times it doesn't. when we are out together I will try to help as far as educating people on service animals, but her being an adult now she likes to try to do it for herself and I do respect that but I also know that sometimes people can be too much for her. Thank you for the work you do to help educate. You are so calm and clear spoken.

My wife has numerous mental health problems. The main ones are PTSD and anxiety. She has trouble being out in public. She has 2 main reactions, she either hides,s hangs her head and stays very quiet, internalizes. Trys to quietly slip away when she feels her panic beginning. If she can't do that, her 2nd reaction is to totally lose the plot. She will become violent, like a cornered animal and you better not get in her way. That reaction is what fears her a lot, she doesn't want to turn like that, anywhere. Because when she really loses it, it terrifies her, let alone anyone else that witnesses it. It can take weeks or months to get over it for her. Guilt, remorse, sadness, shame etc. Animals, all animals, they just seem to have an affinity with her, and she with them. I mean she helped me get over arachniphobia, I now get a bucket err, or jar and pop them spiders outside. Sadly in Australia, it is near impossible for her to get help in anything to do with a service dog. Maybe that's kinda ok for me. Even tho our dogs makes her confidence shine, any form of animal bullying or abuse, she is Mamma Bear and she will deal with the fallout later. The later part is what I have to deal with. Because she will still feel such deep remorse for her actions. any opinions or thoughts will be gratefully received and respected. I guess that is for me. I love my wife dearly, we have been together for 38 years.

I HATE when people ask “is she friendly/does she bite” but what they *really* mean is “can I pet” I’m autistic so I don’t understand why people don’t ask questions directly- why not just ask what they really mean?? There’s a huge difference between a person asking if she bites because they are nervous being around her and want to make sure she’s friendly (service dogs are required by law to not be aggressive but all the fake service dog that lunge and growl at people have made people wary I guess) and me letting them know she won’t hurt them vs them asking “Is it ok if I pet her” and me telling them no. It’s two very different questions. I’ve had people ask if she bites genuinely because they were afraid of her, not t because they wanted to pet her, and people who ask does she bite because they think it’s they can automatically pet her if I say that she doesn’t. People being indirect in the way that they ask if they can pet her is worse than them asking if they can pet her, to be honest.

Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. It is good to know that I am not the only one that has experienced everything you discussed, and multiple times. I can't count how many times I have tried to be polite, and still had people call me something not-nice.

I think a better answer to: "does the dog bite?" Would be, something along the lines of: "only if you touch her"

I’ve got a psychiatric SD. He’s a chocolate lab. Best dude I know. Just commenting to support your channel. 🤙🏼

I often work with my dog unvested, and that leads to a lot of conversations. I know a lot of the time it comes across as me being rude, because I say that they can’t pet him, but I’m getting used to it.

You're too nice...bless your soul. Thank you for your advice. I have my service girl too, so I understand. We have to protect our babies all the time from people. ♥️🙏

Ty for the education.

Your videos have helped me learn a lot about service dogs I watch your videos when I have questions about mine!

I'm glad you made this! This is so helpful to everyone. There needs to be a computer card or something that people carry around so they can show this video to whoever wakes up and decides to be a jerk. I enjoyed the video and hope situations like this stop happening once the world gets more educated about it.

So good to hear! I hear these questions everyday, in bus, in city...and if it's in the bus for example, well you cannot evade, there is simply no space. You have to answer at least SOMETHING (or ignore them totally which would be so disrespectful and uncomfortable for me). I still don't know how to handle it, I mean it depends. Most of the time you have to act individually for each situation and person and always thinking about what they want to hear, what you could say that it is still friendly and so on....SO difficult and psychologically dramatic for me. Even my doctors keep pushing and asking what EXACTLY my service dog (in training) does for me. And of course some of them might need to know, fully understandable, but when I am at a teeth doctor for just 2 minutes, no one has to know my whole life story because I have to explain SO much... I get a strong feeling that they don't believe me and that's why they ask. And for sure for curiosity reasons. My specialized doctors/internists of course do know all the medical problems I have. But I feel so uncomfortable at this moment, notably because they ask in the waiting room where everybody else can also hear ALL my words and all my answers. Would be totaly different if they would ask privately in the doctor's room. I guess in Germany (where I live) it is not common at all to see a service dog (even I myself don't see very often, maybe once or twice a year, unless I am in training, but I mean not very often in the "open world"). Only guide dogs are known here. I always get the feeling that in US this whole service dog "concept" is way more common and often, at least more common than in Germany. And I also know this sort of people that just pet my dog whenever they can. Also other dog owners do this so often (just the fact that they have also a dog is their substantiation to do this, and that they would be allowed to do this for this reason... so weird.) Oh and at the moment I even have a leash band that says my dog bites (it is of course NOT the case that he bites) and try to display him as dangerous as I can when I am just in the city and no one has to know (no business to do and so on), just to try another strategy 😅 but yeah, most of the people ignore what anything says on bags or leash. He gets disctracted so fast when someone tries to lure him to pet him or give him food without asking....why can't the people just let it be 😭 even some my friends want to pet him all the time just because he is cute, no matter what I am saying wtf...they just don't understand it. And when I give them a 100 sides explanation (really happened) then they still don't understand and find it rude and cruel that they can't pet and he lives such a bad life at my side and find arguments and so on. And to the asking problem: I guess invisible dissabilities are the invitation for people to ask just because they don't see some medical things...I also have a youtube channel but not for the main reason "service dog", just my husky (training, play dates, social walks, food tests, cute videos and so on, no main service dog content there). I do say it sometimes or make some rare videos, but I don't really like to say all the things and explanations even here to people so I rather hide it more than maybe you. Maybe one day I will be more brave and maybe one day there will be more attention to service dogs. I really like your channel and your content, you help spreading attention and your words are very helpful for me!! I admire you for being here and being public the way you are. Keep going with your videos. 💙

I needed this info! Thank You!

This video was so helpful ❤people can be so intrusive sometimes, many of them don’t mean to be like that, there’s just a lot of uneducated people about the subject

Thanks!

Hi Bri , Thank you for the videos. They are a big help when I run into similar situations. Dog is SDIT. During our last training session in public a lady tried to talk to my dog while she was working,. Luckily we had her trainer with us to tell the lady to ignore us and she left us alone. It's great to hear from other handlers what they do in those situations. Especially since I will be faced with those situations without an advocate with us.

I had a very awkward moment with my vested service dog in the store. A guy walked up to me, offering to shake my hand and said, "Thank you for serving our country!"I was speechless & shook his hand. I did not want to embarrass him by explaining, I did not serve in the military, my dogs vest states he is a service dog, etc. I felt so bad to say, "You're welcome!". Then, one other time, I had an older man say the same to me, I just smiled. What can you say without embarrassing them? I personally didn't know!

You are too polite! All the best1

Oh my goodness a kind a competent service team that goes to church just like me ❤❤ much love Subscribed

More good info to add to my arsenal before I get my dog! I don't do well being caught off guard, for just about anything, so scripted answers like these give me ideas of ones to practice in advance so that I can pull them out immediately in the moment. Edit: As a side note, you might be surprised how often #1 happens to people in wheelchairs, and it's for the same reason that it happens to many SD handlers.

Thank you for this vid, I am training with my dog soon and you gave great answers!

Very helpful. My SD is about to graduate so I'm trying to prepare myself for those interactions. It's going to be harder because I'm a massage therapist so they will be in the room with me and I'm afraid of what my clients might do. Luckily my regulars are well aware i've been waiting for him for years, but I don't have the same assurances with newbs

"When in doubt, get out." That's what my motto is. I am scared of people, and people have both hurt my dog and I where my last dog was retired do to an injury and I ended I'm just terrified. I have a new service dog but people give me extreme anxiety and ptsd from past attacks. That's not even what my dogs are for I have epilepsy and a heart condition but I look normal and people think they can gate keep and decide who is and who isn't disabled and act accordingly. So I get away from other dogs idk and avoid people. I just want to do my business and go home where I'm safe and can lock the door. I have people attack me for my dog's color, or her breed, or that her ears are not floppy. She is a red husky btw. My retired boy who passed away last year was a German Shepherd and malamute mix. But anyway none of that matters both went though years of training though a service dog trainer and do their tasks incredibly well and read me like a book. My first boy lived to be 12 and he went though last part of school with me. My new girl is a sweetheart that works vary hard and takes her job seriously. My roommate even states she is night and day her on the job and her off camand she goes from trained soldier to a hyper husky soon as I tell her she is off work lol. This also means I don't meet people much for I don't go out long and well sad to say talking to people online they don't always like if they find out your disabled so I tend to not tell my online friends I'm actually disabled with many conditions and take a service dog wherever I go or need a cane and have orthatics or a pacemaker or legally blind but just coast by.

I've started using a cart to add a barrier at self-checkouts to keep people away from my service dog. it's ridiculous that I have to do it in the first place, esp if I'm running in for a single item, but it works.

One thing I do is I use a guide dog, so what I do is I when I’m checking out is I have my dog stand between me and the counter and then he can’t be petted he can’t be whatever they can’t get to him unless they go through me

I’m planning on getting a phyc SD in the next few months. I’m super nervous is some ways but I’m super happy in others. This dog will change my life. Thank you so much! Love your channel!

Im getting one soon and this is so helpful ! Thanks so much!!

I currently have a service dog prospect. I feel like I am prepped a little bit because I have already been a mobility aid user. the amount of people who take my cane as an invitation to learn my life story is wild 😭

Great video as always.Do know there are 2 more things they can ask for, certificate of rabies and state license, I believe all 50 states now require this of any dog 4 months and older and SDs are not exempt. It does not pertain to our dogs being SDs but a health department issue that if needed the police can be called and our dogs confiscated. Never has happened but in traveling abroad even more maybe asked for. Keep sharing it's great info. 🙏👏🐕‍🦺I had an old lady dive to pety dog at Walmart and just put myself forward and told her now to and she without hesitation said she was not going to buy prior to my doing anything she was already outlout saying oh what a cute do I wanna pet you. She was old and seemingly senile, we just moved on.i normally use a wagon to block or another person.

Ah I forgot to comment: What I say in situations like this: he bites OR please don't touch, he is in training. And well, that's all....more is not working and less is not working. Basically: nothing is working 😹 but a small amount of people is listening and understands the no petting thing. (But still trying to focus the dog and watching it and making noises to it and luring it as if this was the excuse and alternative)...in my experience 0,5 % is listening and totally doing what you say and the other 99,5 % not or not totally.

The question is not “what task” the question is “has the dog been trained to perform specific tastes”

I did a comment on this video awhile back, this beginning part just reminded me of a time when I had my horses a few short years ago. Many people will ask does he bite or does he kick. My reply always been the same, he has teeth and he has feet, has he ever bitten me or kicked me, no, but that doesnt mean he not gonna kick or bite you. So many times when I am ask if my dog bites, I just sum up my answer by saying he has never bitten me, and sometimes I say, well please do not touch because you never know what a an animal can do to a stranger.

I was at a conference with my SD and partner. We had an elderly man approach us and put his hand out to my SD saying, " Give me kisses." I said, "Stop. He's working." Old man: " Well, he needs a sign saying "No Kisses!" Me "I think it's strange I should have to put a sign on my SD telling people not to make out with him." Old man's wife, " Damnit Harold! I can't take you anywhere!"

your so pretty!! and dallas is so adorable!

I don’t know a lot about service dogs, however do have a family history of disabilities. And as hurtful as people can be it truly is ignorance that plays the role. My brother & best friend had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, he was in a wheelchair most of his life and for what ever reason they often treated him like he was mentally disabled. We were a little over a year apart and did everything together so I had to bear witness. I really don’t know anything about service dogs because my brother never had one, but the subject for me is fascinating. I have children and for me I don’t see any logic in allowing my children to approach an unknown person or dog. So from an early age they have been taught to always ask the owner before touching a dog. I never thought really to talk to them about stuff they shouldn’t ever ask a service dog owner, I guess maybe because the question of can I pet your dog will be no and they will leave it alone after that. We love dogs, I honestly can’t afford a dog and that’s a responsible parent decision to make. But we do love to pet them when we can. Safety of my kids is important. So no touching dogs with out permission.

I agree that SD handlers are not required to respond to any question, comment, or accusation from the piblic; however, I would argue that the 2 questions should be responded to truthfully. Do be ready to pull out the "I am not required by law to disclose my personal and private health information. I am uncomfortable answering further questions, and will consider further comments harassment." And "Service dogs aren't to be distracted. You are distracting my Service Dog. That is illegal. This is your one and only warning to not harass or assault either of us. ... I am going to call the police." In your pocket to respond to further unwanted questions.

Thank you so much! I'm 16 years old and getting a new service dog puppy today. He's a standard poodle 6 weeks old. It will be a hard process, but I'm willing to work for it. 6 months of training 😅 kinda nervous, but reminding myself it's not a sprint it's a marathon. I'm not very good with boundaries, so I'll be using this in the future. Have a good day! ❤

The crazy thing about it is that most people are walking around here with "unseen disabilities" now a days. To Me, the fact that you feel like youre entitled to just walk up to a total stranger and dispute the fact that they have a service dog is a disability within itself. Like, wtf is wrong with you that makes you think its ok to do that? You might need the SD more than i do! Lol.😅

5nr that just happened to us today 🙁 making a leash banner now Do Not PET… but some people Will never be able to understand 😢

Q: Does your dog bite? A: I bite. 🤨 Dont pet. (Im usually polite, but you can catch the vibe quickly, especially if they are already reaching or sending kids to try n pet my dog)

I think also if maybe we said "pleas dont touch "US", possibly it could give the person the understanding that you are VIOLATING my(as the human) personal space....my dog is a part of my personal space. I wish some kind of legal action could be taken for this that would deter people from just coming into my personal space and touching "US"

Your just to sweet😢

To add to the issue of unknown dogs approaching your SD. Dont be afraid to protect your dog. If you are going to be soft and say 'shes working sorry'. The other owner isnt gonna care 9/10. Body block the other dog. Use your leg to create space. Grab their collar. Step in front of your dog to protect them! Kick if necessary. Handlers have to start being able and willing to defend the dog that will protect them.

I think you’re right sometimes being blunt is the only way and you shouldn’t feel bad about it because it’s not your fault the person didn’t recognize the fact that what they were doing was distracting I think it should be common sense that making noises and waving at the dog is just as distracting as petting

I actually do get that question quite often why I'm in a power wheelchair

i have a scenario for you i work at a walmart as a cashier in the garden center and my service dog is a chihuahua so she is small and i have a sling that i put her in and she can still do her job that she neeeds to do but my issue is when the customers don't ask and just assume that it is ok to come up and pet her how can i get that to stop i have tried everthing that i can think of and nothing has worked not only does it distact her but it also is invading my space and makes my anxiety go out the roof when it happens please help me

I've gotten tired of people "not knowing" how to react around my service dog. If i see you distracting my sd now, I always ask them loudly "wtf are you doing?". Nips it in the butt right away. Im tired of having to educate people.

Hope people treat you and your dog with respect

My favorite I’ve gotten so far (sarcasm) is when he’s vested AND(/or) we’re in a pet-friendly store and someone-almost always an old white man who then continues walking toward us for some reason-complains about their deadly allergies and how we’re going to kill him. And since Blue isn’t fully trained and our state doesn’t recognize SDITs, everywhere we go is pet friendly.

Personally, I like to say no thank you he’s working and if they don’t stop, I can say please stop you’re distracting him. He needs to focus on me.. now in the heat of the moment I don’t always remember and that’s frustrating because I have a lot of issues with being in the public with my PTSD

I'm searching a lot for my husband to get a service dog. How can I get a "legal" service dog qualification?

This happens to me all the time lol even a cop in Florida at my little brother game said I should have something that says I need her that she couldn’t be there but he will let her stay if she’s on my lap in my freaking wheelchair sooo stupid Florida doesn’t like handicapped people 🤷‍♀️

Loved your personal anecdotes about your SD in the community. However, a SD is just that. You need NOT apologize to adult strangers who ignore the patches and want to 1) interfere with your SD, or 2) rudely ask about your disabilities. It's none of their business. Maybe I'm a little more straightforward, but sometimes apologizing for another's lack of propriety is a sign of weakness. Don't excuse others.

I only struggle with children and old people. Otherwise I'm snappy. Does he bite?- no, but I do. Is he friendly?- I'm not. Can our dogs meet?- can you f*ck off? You dont look disabled.- and you didnt look stupid, but then you spoke. Then an old man comes up and touches him ignoring all patches and I freeze cause I cant be mean to old people...

I hope this is an appropriate way to ask. But i usually say "hi im (insert my name) and i am interested in getting my own service dog so i was wondering if i could ask you some questions about your dog?" let me know if i am asking in an appropriate way.

How about, "oh! I didn't realize s/he was a Service Dog!" *dog wearing disability gear* What's it gonna take?! Oi!

My response to persistent rude people. Nothing is wrong with me but I didn't realize stupidity is a disability and you have it. Good bye. I also always have ADA cards and hand them one.

It is very hard to not pet a cute dog.